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Monday, April 1, 2013

Leon's Birth Story

It started on Tuesday the 19th I went in for my weekly doctor's appointment at 9:30 in the morning. I'm actually not surprised that Leon was born that day. I even booked the appointment in the morning so I wouldn't be in labor all night. I also had bob stay home from work instead of getting a sitter, just in case. All four of my kids were born right after my doctor's appointments so I was hoping that would be the case this time as well. When I went in for my appointment I told the doctor I wanted to have the baby today and when he checked me he thought I was ready. He also felt my stomach and guessed the baby would be 8lbs but no bigger. I had been having small contractions that morning but starting just after 10 things started getting stronger and more regular.

I went home and told Bob to get things ready. While he packed I tried to go on a walk to make sure the contractions didn't stop. I didn't get very far when they started getting really strong. It was crazy how fast they became painful. I called my mom and a sitter and we were on the way to the hospital around 11.

Once we got there I couldn't get the epidural soon enough. I had never had it hurt so badly before. From about 11:30 to 12:30 I thought I wasn't going to make it. Luckily the anesthesiologist pushed back the noon c-section so he could give me the epidural. I got that at about 12:30 and was instantly feeling much much better. Besides feeling itchy and shaky I didn't feel a thing until much after Leon was born.

At about 4:20 my doctor came and got me ready to push. I have never had a doctor come before the pushing started. Things were very calm and quiet. It was almost strange. I gave it one big hard, long push and his head was out. Then the doctor told me to stop and had to clean out his nose and unwrap the cord. Then one more push and he was out.

At 4:32 and 9 pounds 6 ounces Leon Chase was born, I don't think it could have gone any smoother.

I love the big windows in the hospital. I actually requested room 14 because it is bigger than the rest.

My mom was nice enough to watch the older three kids and she brought them to the hospital to visit me and Leon before taking them back to her house. Everyone was excited but Scarlett was very possessive of "her Baby." She didn't want to stop holding him and cried when we made her.

Ok, so he wasn't born on the first day of spring (Tucker was born on the first day of Summer and Penelope the first day of Fall), but he was pretty close. And this way we have one child born during each season of the year.